The 2008-2009 BYU Cougars players are freshman guard/forward Charles Abouo from Abidjan Coute d'lvoire, freshman forward/center James Anderson from Page Arizona, freshman forward Michael Boswell from Aloha Oregon, senior guard Lee Cummard from Mesa Arizona, sophomore guard Jackson Emery from Alpine Utah, sophomore guard Jimmer Fredette from Glens Falls New York, freshman forward Noah Hartsock from Bartlesville Oklahoma, sophomore guard Michael Loyd, Jr., senior forward/center Gavin MacGregor from Ridgecrest California, junior forward/center Chris Miles from Provo Utah, junior guard Lamont Morgan Jr. from Pomona California, freshman guard Matt Pinegar from Provo Utah, senior guard Archie Rose from Nassau Bahamas and junior guard/forward Jonathan Tavernari from Sao Bernardo Brazil.
Head coach Dave Rose has been with the men's basketball team since 2005 and has a 72-26 record. His 3-year resume is reportedly just about unmatched with just 8 other coaches who have won more games in their first 3 seasons on the Division I level. As a matter of fact, Rose is second in line only behind Tennessee's Bruce Pearl for the most wins. Fans and players alike regard Rose as a motivator, strategist and tireless worker.
Other coaching staff includes associate head coach Dave Rice, assistant coach John Wardenburg, assistant coach Terry Nashif, director of basketball operations Tim LaComb and men's basketball secretary Zeffie Nelson.
The Cougars will continue the season with games against Wyoming in Provo Utah on Saturday January 31, Airforce at USAFA Colorado on Tuesday February 3, Colorado State in Provo Utah on Wednesday February 11, TCH in Fort Worth Texas on Saturday February 14, New Mexico in Provo Utah on Tuesday February 17, UNLV in Las Vegas Nevada on Saturday February 21, San Diego State in San Diego California on Tuesday February 24, Utah in Provo Utah on Saturday February 28, Wyoming in Laramie Wyoming on Wednesday March 4 and the MWC Basketball Championship in Las Vegas Nevada on March 11 through March 14.
The Cougars play home games in The Marriott Center, which is said to be a basketball players dream come true. Only the Syracuse Carrier Dome at 33,000 seats and the Tennessee Thompson's Boling Arena at 24,525 are larger than The Marriott Center's 22,700 seats. There are seven locker rooms, two reception rooms, press and interview rooms, men's and women's team rooms, a training room and a President's room.
With an upgraded floor in 2007, the Cougars men's basketball team has maintained a .784 winning percent for games play in The Marriott Center over the 37 years games have been held there. Former UTEP head coach Don Haskins says "the Marriott Center is one of the top five places to play in the country, not just because of its size, but because its facilities are fantastic. If there is a better arena, I haven't seen it." Opened in 1971, the largest crowd in attendance was 23,106 in 1981. The Marriott Center is situated on three acres of land and encloses eight million cubic feet. Plenty of space to keep winning games at home.